Pressing machine and control



June 29, 1937. w JOHNSON ET AL 2,085,466

PRESSING MAGHINE AND CONTROL Filed Nov. 26, 1934 FIG.

INVENTOR GEORGE W. & ANGUS F.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSINGMACHINE AND CONTROL Application November 26, 1934, Serial No. 754,698

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type generally usedin laundry and garment work and to a novel control mechanism therefor.

An object of the present invention is to pro- ,vide a pair ofcooperating pressing members, power storage means for moving one of saidmembers toward the other, means for energizing and holding energized thepower storage means, means for placing the members in juxtaposition, andmeans for thereafter releasing the power storage means whereupon themembers are placed in final pressure engagement.

More particularly our invention provides a bed mounted on spring means,a motor for placing a cooperating head close to the bed andsimultaneously loading the spring means, and means for releasing thespring loading means so that the bed is urged against the head in itsfinal pressure position.

Our invention also provides a motor and motion transmitting mechanismfor closing the press, the motion transmitting mechanism being arrangedto be held in press-closed position by pressure exerted between thepressing members when the power stored in the spring means is exerted toproduce said final pressure.

Other objects and advantages of our invention comprise suitablestructure and control mechanism for carrying out the above purposes aswill more clearly appear from the accompanying specification and drawingand the essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevation of a press with the pressingmembers in open position, embodying our invention, certain of the partsbeing shown in section to more clearly disclose the structure. Thecontrol mechanism for this press is shown in diagrammatic form for thesake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a partial View showing the pressing membersof Fig. l in another position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line33 of Fig. 1.

We have illustrated our invention as applied to a press of the wellknown scissors type in which the bed is supported on the frame bysprings and the head is moved toward and from a safe closed position bytoggle means. Simultaneously with this movement of the head to closedposition the bed actuated by a motorrecedes sufficiently to load thesprings. Thereafter with the head still in closed position, the motor isactuated to release the springs whereupon the bed moves into finalpressure engagement with the head. We do not desire to be limited,however, tothis specific mechanism as our invention may be applied toother types of presses and the spring means or other power storage meansmay be mounted upon the head or bed as will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

In the press illustrated, a bed pressing member It is mounted on a frameH for vertical movement relative thereto, the mounting comprisingflanges [2 on the bed adapted to slidingly engage a member i3 on theframe. Between the member l3 and the bed Ill and supporting the bed IDare springs Hi. It is preferable that there be a plurality of suchsprings, four being shown, and it is obvious that these springs are socalculated that in the final position of the pressing members when thesprings are urging the bed into final engagement with the head they willsupply sufii cient pressure to create the ironing effect desired. Powermeans is provided for energizing and holding energized the power storagemeans or spring means It; In the form shown -a cylinder and piston motorI5 is mounted beneath the bed and the motor has a piston [6 connected bya vertically extending piston rod H with the bed member H).

A pressing head member i8 is carried by a head lever ill which ispivotally mounted at 20 on a portion of the frame and oscillatable toopen and close the press by means of toggle links 2| and 22 which inturn are connected at their knuckle with the piston rod 23 of a cylinderand piston motor 24. The toggles are so arranged that they may be movedbeyond their straightened position when the head is safely closed, whichmovement is limited by the shoulders 26 and 27 located at the toggleknuckle. A spring 28 is connected between the frame and toggle member 22to bias the toggles toward their broken position, which opens the press.

Control mechanism is provided for the supply and exhaust of pressurefluid to motors l5 and 24 which, in the present embodiment, comprises anormally closed inlet valve 29 and a normally open exhaust valve 30which are mounted on a common stem for operation by manual 3|. Inletvalve 29 communicates with a source of fluid supply 32 and with motor 24by way of conduit 33 and with motor l5 by way of conduits 34 and 35. Inconduit is a check valve 36 which permits flow of fluid only in thedirection indicated by the arrow. Valve 3B therefore serves as anexhaust for motor 24 only. Conduit 33 leading to motor 24 is restrictedas by means of needle valve 31. By-passing the needle valve 37 is aconduit 38, in which is located a check valve 39 which permits fiow onlyin the direction of the arrow. Conduit 35 also communicates with anormally open exhaust valve 40 and a normally closed inlet valve 4|,which in turn communicates with a source of fiuid supply 42. Valves 40and 4 I are mounted on a common stern for simultaneous actuation bymanual 43. A study of Fig. 1 will show that valve 40 provides a normallyopen exhaust for motor 24 through conduits 33, 38, 34, and 35.

The operation of the machine with the parts in the position of Fig. 1 isas follows: The operator arranges the lay of the work on the bed memberI and actuates manuals 3| and 43. Actuation of manual 43 closes exhaustvalve 4|] and opens inlet valve 4|, while actuation of manual 3| closesexhaust valve 30 and admits pressure fluid through conduit 32, valve 29,conduit 33 and needle valve 31 to motor 24. Piston 25 moves over, movingthe toggles beyond their straightened position and moving the head toits safe closed position as shown in Fig. 2. Simultaneously with theabove action, pressure fluid flows through valve 29, conduit 33, checkvalve 36, conduits 34 and 35 to motor l5 above piston l6 which moves thepiston downward causing the bed ID to recede from the head to theposition shown in Fig. 2, while simultaneously energizing or compressingthe springs l4. Because the rate of fluid supply to motor I5 is greaterthan that to motor 24, the bed It! reaches the position of Fig. 2 beforethe head descends. This may be controlled by regulating valve 3'|. Withthe parts in the position of Fig. 2, the operator now releases bothmanuals whereupon valves 30 and 40 return to their normally openpositions and valves 29 and 4| return to their normally closedpositions. Fluid is then exhausted from motors l5 and 24, that frommotor l5 being accomplished somewhat more quickly than that from motor24 because of .the arrangement of the conduits and because of thereduced capacity of motor I5. Springs M are thus released and bed In ismoved thereby into pressure engagement with the head I8. This movementof the bed is accomplished so quickly that the toggle members 2| and 22are still in their position beyond straightened position, that is tosay, with the knuckle of the toggles to the left of a straight lineconnecting the end pivots of the toggles as seen in Fig. 1, and with theshoulders 26 and 2'! in engagement. It should be noted that release ofmanual 43 alonewill release pressure above piston I6 sufficiently topermit springs M to act and close the press. This mode of operation iseifective although wasteful of air. It will be apparent that pressurebetween the pressing members It! and I8 will hold the toggles in thislocked position beyond their straightened position. To open the press,manual 43 is actuated which closes valve 48 and opens valve 4|. Fluidflows from supply 42 through valve 4| and conduit 35 to motor 55. Thismotor again compresses sprin s l4 and causes bed H] to recede from thehead, whereupon spring 28 is eifective to break the toggles toward theirposition in Fig. 1 and the press opens. Manual 43 is then released andthe parts are ready for another pressing cycle.

Both hands of the operator are kept occupied in the actuation of manuals3| and 43 until the parts reach the safe-closed position shown in Fig.2. As the head l8 comes down, the bed I0 recedes so that final pressureengagement between the members does not take place until the manuals arereleased after the members are in the safe-closed position of Fig. 2. Wehave thus provided a safe press and one which is held in final pressureengagement by spring means, while all fluid pressure is exhausted fromthe press when the members are in their closed position.

What we claim is:

i. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movablepressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge oneof said members toward the other member, means for energizing andholding energized said power storage means, means for relatively movingsaid members into juxtaposition, means for coincidently causingactuation of the two last-named .means, and means for thereafterreleasing said power storage means to place said members under finalpressure.

2. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movablepressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge oneof said members toward the other member, means for moving one of saidmembers to a position adjacent the other member, means operativelyconnected with said moving means for energizing and holding energizedsaid power storage means, and means for thereafter releasing said powerstorage means to place said members under final pressure.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating pressing members, powerstorage means adapted when released to urge the first of said memberstoward the second member, means for moving the second of said members toa position adjacent the first member, means operatively connected withsaid moving means for energizing and holding energized said powerstorage means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storagemeans to place said members under final pressure.

4. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating pressing members, eachrelatively movable with respect to the other, spring means biasing onemember to its press-closed position, power means for causing said onemember to recede from its press-closed position whereby said springmeans is stressed, power means for moving said other membersubstantially to press-closed position, means for coincidentlyenergizing both of said power means, and means for releasing saidfirst-named power means.

5. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movablepressing members, spring means adapted to urge one of said memberstoward the other member, means for moving one of said members to aposition adjacent the other member, means operatively connected withsaid moving means for energizing and holding energized said springmeans, and means for thereafter releasing said spring means to placesaid members under final pressure.

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movable headand bed pressing members, power storage means adapted when released tourge said bed member toward the head member, means for moving said headmember to a position adjacent the bed member, means operativelyconnected with said head member moving means for energizing and holdingenergized said power storage means, and means for thereafter releasingsaid power storage means to place said members under final pressure.

'7. In a pressing machine, a pair of cooperating relatively movablepressing members, power storage means adapted when released to urge thefirst of said members toward the second member, means for moving saidsecond member to a position adjacent the first member includingmechanism adapted to be held in press-closed position by final pressurebetween said members, means for energizing and holding energized saidpower storage means, means for coincidently causing actuation of the twolast-named means, and means for thereafter releasing said power storagemeans to, place said members under final pressure.

8. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon formovement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with saidbed, means biasing said head toward open position, means for moving saidhead to safeclosed position adjacent said bed including mechanism forholding said head in said position by pressure between said head andbed, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urgesaid bed into pressure engagement with said head when the latter is inits safeclosed position, power means for loading said spring means,control means actuable by two hands of an operator for coincidentlyactuating said head moving means in head-closing direction and saidpower means in spring-loading direction, and said control means beingarranged to release said power means upon removal of one hand.

9. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon formovement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with saidbed, means for moving said head to safeclosed position adjacent said bedincluding a fluid motor, spring means between said frame and bed adaptedwhen loaded to urge said bed into contact with said head in itssafe-closed position, a second fluid actuated motor having an operativeconnection for loading said spring means, control means for coincidentlyactuating said first-named motor in head-closing direction and saidsecond motor in spring-loading direction and for thereafter releasingsaid second motor.

10. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon formovement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coact with saidbed, means for moving said head toward said bed including toggle linksand a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said links to a lockedposition, spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded tourge said bed into contact with said head when said links are in lockedposition, a second fluid actuated motor having an operative connectionfor loading said spring means, and control means for actuating saidfirst-named motor in head-closing direction and said second motor inspring-loading direction and for thereafter releasing said second motor.

11. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon forvertical movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coactwith said bed, means for moving said head toward said bed includingtoggle links and a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said linkspast straightened position to a locked position,

spring means between said frame and bed adapted when loaded to urge saidbed into contact with said head when said links are in locked position,a second fluid actuated motor having an operative connection for loadingsaid spring means, control means requiring two hands of an operator forcoincidently actuating said first-named motor in head-closing directionand said second motor in spring-loading direction, and said controlmeans being arranged to release said second motor upon removal of onehand.

12. In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed mounted thereon forvertical movement relative thereto, a pressing head adapted to coactwith said bed, means for moving said head toward said bed includingtoggle links and a fluid motor connected therewith for moving said linkspast straightened position to a locked position, the connection betweensaid links and said head being arranged to hold said links locked bypressure between said head and bed, means tending to break said toggleand open the press, spring means between said frame and bed adapted whenloaded to urge said bed into contact with said head when said links arein locked position, a second fluid actuated motor having an opera tiveconnection for loading said spring means,

control means for actuating said first-named motor in head-closingdirection and said second motor in spring-loading direction and forthereafter releasing said second motor whereupon said press is heldclosed by said spring means, and means for thereafter actuating saidsecond motor in spring-loading direction whereby said toggle breakingmeans opens the press.

13. A pressing machine, comprising relatively movable pressing members,yieldable means tending to produce relative movement of said memberstoward each other to produce pressure upon the work, power actuatedopposing means operating against the effect of said yieldable, means andwhen energized arranged to preponderate over the same and cause relativemovement of said members away from each other, and power cut-cit meansfor deenergizing said opposing means for rendering the same ineffectiveto thereby permit said yieldable means to become effective upon thework.

14. A pressing machine, comprising relatively movable pressing members,yieldable means tending to produce relative movement of said memberstoward each other to produce pressure upon the work, fluid actuatedopposing means operating against the effect of said yieldable means andarranged to preponderate over the same and cause relative movement ofsaid members away from each other, and means for progressively releasingmotive fluid from said opposing means to thereby permit progressiveapplication to the work of the effect of said yieldable means.

I GEORGE W. JOHNSON.

ANGUS F. HANNEY.

